Display-tray.



No.-7|0,093. Patented Sept. 30', 1902.

v w. BRAND.

DISPLAY TRAY.

(Application filed Ot. 28, 1901. J

(No Model.)

g naj w UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BRAND, OF OSI-IKOSH, VVISGONSIN.

DIS PLAY-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 710,093, dated September 30, 1902.

Application filed October 28,1901. SerialNo. 80,220; (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRAND, residing at Oshkosh, in the county'of Winne bago and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Display- Trays, of which the following is a description,- reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in display-trays.

Heretofore display-trays have been so constructed that it has been impossible to effectually clean the same of the dirt and dust which settles in the bottoms thereof, particularly in the corners or angles of the trays or of th subdivided spaces thereof.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a construction of such character that any dirt or dust which may accumulate in. the bottom of the tray and in the corners and angles thereof may be readily removed.

With the above primary object and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved tray. Fig. 2 is asectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a front end view. Fig. 4 is an end view of the tray, showing the same provided with depending legs; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the partition-holders.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 6 indicates the outer frame of the tray, which may be square, rectangular, or any other desired shape. I

Secured to the inner sides of the side pieces of the tray at a short distance above the lower edges of said side pieces are cleats 7. To these cleats is secured a reticulated bottom 8, preferably of wire-gauze, although any other desirable material maybe employed, so long as the same is provided with a series of open spaces'or interstices. The top edges of the cleats, as shown in Fig. 2 and as indicated by the numeral 9, are preferably beveled inwardly. The under edges of two opposite side pieces of the outer frame are out out at two points to form recesses 10 10,1eaving depending portions 11 between the reoesses, which depending portions are flush with the uncut lower edges of the side pieces, and hence said uncut lower edges and the depending pieces 11 rest on the supporting medium for the tray.

, It will be seen from the construction above described that any dirt or dust which may pass into the tray will work through the re-.

ticulated bottom thereof and settle on the table or otherv support 12, upon which the tray rests. If the dirt, however, instead of passing freely through the interstices of the bottom should settle on said bottom, then a duster swept over the bottom will very readily remove all accumulated sediment. This removal is facilitated by the beveling of the edges of the cleats 7, whereby a square upper edge to said cleats upon which the dirt could settle is avoided. It will also be seen that the dirt which passes through the bottom of'the tray will settle on the supportingtable therebeneath, and access to this for the purpose of removing the same may be readily obtained through the open spaces formed by the recesses 10 10.

In trays of the character to which my invention pertains the interior space of the tray is usually subdivided into a series of separate compartments for containing different kinds of goods, the said separate compartments, being formed-by means of partitions. In my construction I show two parallel partitions 13 13, arranged above the bottom of the tray and extending from the front side piece of the frame of said tray to the rear side piece thereof and dividing the tray into three main compartments. Arranged in these compartments are a series of transverse partitions 14:, subdividing the main compartments into a series of smaller subdivisions. It is desirable to have the partitions 14 adjustable, and for this purpose I provide in the inner sides of the side pieces of the frame and the sides of the partitions 13 a series of alinedrecesses15l5. Inanytwoofthesealined recesses are adapted to be fitted the projecting prongs 16 16 of a partition-holder 17, the

main portion of each partition-holder being of U-shaped form in cross-section, so as to receive and hold therein the end of'the partition, the opposite end of said partition being fitted and held in a similar holder arranged oppositely thereto. By this provision whenever it is desired to change the width of any subdivision all that is necessary to be doneis to slide the partition out of engagement with the holders and then remove said holders from the alined recesses which they engage and cause the prongs thereof to engage other opposite alined recesses. The partition is then reinserted in the holders.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I showa modified form of construction wherein the tray instead of resting and being supported upon a table or other medium is provided with depending legs 18.

In order to strengthen the outer frame of the tray, I prefer to employ a transverse brace-strip 19, extending beneath the bottom 8 from one depending portion 11 to the other.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. A display-tray consisting of an outer frame, one of the side pieces thereof having its lower edge recessed, and a reticulated bottom piece secured to the sides of the frame below the top edges and above the bottom edges thereof, and being a suificient distance below the top edges to form a substantial receptacle for the display of goods, and a suliicient distance above the lower edges to leave a space beneath the bottom piece.

2. A display-tray consisting of an outer frame, cleats secured to the inner sides of the side pieces thereof below the upper edges and above the lower edges of the side piece, said cleats having their upper edges beveled downwardly, and a reticulated bottom piece secured to the cleats, the position of the cleats being such that said bottom piece is below the top edges and above the lower edges of the sides of the frame, and being a sufficient distance below the top edges to form a substantial receptacle for the display of goods, and a sufficient distance above thelower edges to leave a space beneath the bottom piece.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BRAND.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM C. BoUoK, GEORGE HILTON. 

